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Press release

million+ comments on government Science and Innovation strategy

17 Dec 2014

The university think-tank, million+, cautiously welcomes the Government’s Science and Innovation Strategy published today (12 Dec). The Strategy ‘Our plan for growth: science and innovation’ was published alongside an evidence paper and response to the recent consultation on long-term capital investment in science and research.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive, million+ said:

“Recent million+ analysis revealed in 2012-13 twelve higher education institutions received 50 per cent of quality-related research funding. Following the announcement within the strategy for a review of the UK research councils in order to assess how they can support and invest in research in the most effective ways, we hope this hyper-concentration will be addressed as part of this review.

“million+ has led calls for the strengths of universities across the UK to be recognised and utilised and therefore strongly supports the commitment by Government to ensure excellence is rewarded wherever it is found. However, there are still many questions to be answered with a number of consultations commissioned and so a full picture remains unclear until Summer 2015.

“It is a welcome step that Government admits that policies have not been fair in terms of regional investment and acknowledges the successful role of university-business research partnerships as key drivers for innovation. This needs to be followed up by policies that place science, research and innovation at the centre of local and regional growth strategies.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors
1. For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Rochelle Owusu-Antwi, Press and Communications Officer, million+ on 020 7717 1658 / 07527 336 795 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk
2. million+ is a leading university think-tank. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk.
3. The full ‘Our plan for growth: science and innovation’ strategy document can be found here.
4. The full million+ report ‘The Innovation Challenge: A new approach to research funding’ can be found here.
5. The full million+ report ‘Smarter Regions Smarter Britain’ can be found here.